Rachel Maddow Grills David Axelrod on Social Security/Chained CPI

Yeah, I'm not a fan of this guy.

When I hear "chained CPI," my eyes roll back in my head. When I hear liberals--particularly liberals I like--whining about something that makes my eyes do that, I do a double face-palm. And when I hear liberals I barely tolerate doing the same thing, well, I kind of tune out. Now, let me back up and say that President Obama putting Social Security into a deficit conversation is rather irritating. One has nothing to do with the other. Social Security cutting and/or tweaking is a bone thrown to conservatives who have hated every element of the New Deal since they were invented. And no, I don't particularly like throwing bones to Mitch McConnell and John Boner Boehner. Lettuce and bourbon (respectively) would seem like a better toss.

But you know what? Time and again, the Prez has shown himself to know pretty much what he's doing. He may misstep, he may lose one here and there. But more often than not, he ends up pretty much where he wants to be. The first three years of his Presidency, liberal gays were shrieking (it wasn't pretty) about where our "fierce advocate" was, and then he came through. Solidly. I'm trusting him here to know what he's doing. I'm cool with people like Bernie Sanders raising a ruckus, go to town, do it, fine. But the whining and hand-wringing is making me nuts.

So, I really appreciated Rachel Maddow's line of attack on her current colleague, former Obama insider David Axelrod. I never liked him, nor most people who serve in his position for any president, or candidate. Rachel didn't whine, but asked pointed, repeated and very, very insistent questions.  Axelrod didn't quite crumble, but you can't say Rachel didn't try.

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Attention Lindsey Graham: Social Security Has Nothing to do With "Fiscal Cliff!"

Close your mouth, Lindsey. People are starting to talk.

I know that Republicans really, really, really want to undo FDR's "New Deal" and all, but it gets tiresome when they try to attach "Social Security reform" to manufactured crises like the "fiscal cliff" or raising the "debt ceiling." Social Security is its own separate, self-funded thing. It has nothing to do with what's going on right now. Lindsey Graham and the rest of the GOP are being disingenuous and reckless with the United States economy.

[Excerpt]

GOP Senator Lindsey Graham Takes Nation Hostage – Raise Social Security Retirement Age Or Else

As reported on Think Progress, Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, who represents South Carolina, would throw the country into an economic calamity that is expected to make 2008’s Great Recession look like a New Year’s Eve party if Republicans don’t get the spending cuts to entitlements they’re so desperately craving. . .

Read more at: Addicting Info

Boehner Resorting to "Tricks" on Payroll Tax Holiday?

John Boner Boehner, from ThinkProgress

It is normal--regrettable, but normal--for a politician to spout a line, while doing the opposite. For some time, the Republicans have been the very vocal party of "tax cuts." Didn't matter what tax, or if it caused deficits, cutting it is always a good thing. Except for when it isn't.

Far more important than adhering to their own principles, to House and Senate Republicans, is beating Barack Obama. It's more important than taxes. It's more important than the economy. If people are unemployed, homeless, starving, it's all collateral damage. Beat Obama. But what happens if those unemployed, homeless, starving people wake up and see that it's the Republicans what done it to 'em?

[Excerpt]


BREAKING: House Republicans Again Delay Payroll Tax Cut Vote, May Resort To Procedural Gimmicks 

In a stunning move, the House Republican leadership postponed a vote planned for late tonight on a two-month extension of the payroll tax holiday and unemployment benefits that passed the Senate with a huge bipartisan majority. Republicans planned to reject the Senate bill today in a gambit to force the upper chamber to come back from recess and pass a longer term extension. . .

Read more at: Think Progress

George Carlin: The American Dream

Many would call me a "lefty, liberal blogger," and I am a registered Democrat. But it's only because that is the party that fits best, not because I'm a big fan of it. It's just that I find the Republican party to be on the whole, nasty and mean. But I'm aware both parties have corruption, both parties are "playing the game." Lobbyists from every corporation have infiltrated them both. My only card is that the Republicans are worse. It can get depressing. Especially when I review this video, made a couple of years before George Carlin died. It's cynical. You could dismiss him as a grouchy old man. But he's right. He's so right.

Herman Cain's 9-9-9 Plan Ends Medicare & Social Security

I'm guessing this is like the small print on the TV screen that they display for 2 seconds during a pizza commercial. Or maybe it's just as simple as Michele Bachmann said: the devil's in the details.

 

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President Obama's Prime Time Speech on Debt Ceiling

I thought the speech was pretty good, though like pundit Melissa Harris-Perry, I at first thought that Obama was giving us the Republican plan first. Which goes to show you how far to the right the Democrats have moved in this fight. The President did a good job of explaining the situation to a nation that doesn't always pay attention to such things. But I think the main point--the fact that the debt ceiling can be raised right this second with a one-sentence bill--could have been clearer. All the tax cuts, spending cuts, possible revenue enhancements, slashing Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security. . .all the posturing, all of the "deals". . .have nothing to do with raising the debt ceiling. It's a manufactured, phony crisis that is becoming a real one.

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Tarryl Clark Fights "Crazy Eyes" Michele Bachmann

Yeah!  There is so much crazy to fight with Minnesota's Michele Bachmann, it had to be difficult for Democratic opponent Terryl Clark to choose just what to say about her. But the issue of Social Security is a good one, a nice solid hit. And since Bachmann looks crazy in most photos, a liberal sprinkling of them in this ad serves a dual purpose.  I just hope we see more of these kinds of ads.  Clear, concise and effective.

Sam Seder: "Social Security is Broke?" That's Bullsh*t!

Having missed Sam Seder on the radio, it's good to have him back, even if it is in small chunks. And even if he sorta-kinda stole Penn & Teller's Bullshit title.  Which could turn out to be a great future installment, I suppose.

Have Anti-government Health Care Advocates Denounced Their Own?

We keep being told that the government can't run anything effectively. The DMV, the Post Office. . .dreadful, right? And yet, there are recipients of current government health care already here in large numbers. Senators, Congressmen, veterans, and oh yeah, there's this. . .

[Excerpt]

Memo to pundits and the public: Medicare is a government program. Really, it is.

. . . from Arthur Laffer, an economist who is founder and Chairman of the Laffer Group:

If you like the Post Office and the Department of Motor Vehicles and you think they’re run well, just wait till you see Medicare, Medicaid and health care done by the government. . .

I'm not sure I've read anything else quite that stupid today.

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